“Nothing,” Jia replied. “I was appreciating your books.”
“Ah, a woman of culture. Good. That means you’re reasonable.” Radira’s gaze slid to Erik. “And you?”
“I’m definitely not a man of culture,” Erik offered with a grin.
“I see. Let’s get down to business, shall we?” Radira folded her hands in her lap. “I must apologize for your rude treatment at the hands of my men. You have to understand certain business matters must be handled, but if I had known it was you, I would have warned them off.”
“If you’d known it was us?” Erik asked. “Who do you think we are?”
Radira looked him up and down. “Hmm. Some sort of disguise, it seems like, Mr. Blackwell. Disappointing. I would have preferred the real you.” She turned her attention to Jia. “And you, Miss Lin.”
“I think you’ve mistaken us for someone—” Jia began.
“Don’t insult me.” Radira’s thin smile disappeared. She took a deep, shuddering breath and slowly let it out, and her smile returned. “I’m not an idiot. I had information that you would be coming to Mars, and I don’t need DNA to know that the kind of man and woman who could so cheerfully lay out my men and then have the audacity to come directly to me would be the NSCPD’s finest.”
“We’re not cops anymore.” Erik shrugged. “We’re civilians.”
Jia glared at him. They didn’t need to confirm everything.
He shrugged. “She already figured it out, and we’re here to make sure the rainbow suit gang doesn’t screw with us while we do our business.”
Radira chuckled. “Yes, you’re not with the police anymore, and that makes you far, far more dangerous.”
“Funny,” Erik replied. “I was just about to say the same thing.”
Jia pointed at the door. “Mr. Magen…whatever his name is and the others came and tried to shake us down. They got violent. We responded in kind. Without killing them, I will point out. The point is, it wasn’t our fault. We’re not paying protection money to land our ship in a private hangar.”
Radira waved a hand dismissively, a faintly bored look on her face. Jia wanted to smack the smugness off of the woman, but making a move would probably bring dozens of men and bots into the room.
“The truth is, I don’t make most of my money through petty antics like that.” Radira let out a soft laugh. “But you’re former cops. You know how things work. An organization needs to project strength and establish borders to be respected. Otherwise, other organizations run all over them.” She stared at Erik with undisguised lust. “I know what you look like without your disguise, but that can wait. Before we continue, I have to ask…are you interested in joining Prism Associates?”
“What?” Jia gaped. “You are asking us to join a syndicate?”
“Yes.” Radira rested her cheek in her palm. “You two are impressive in your ability to handle yourselves. I don’t know why you abruptly left the police force, but in my experience, when that kind of thing happens, it generally means the police are covering their asses. Having the two symbols of anti-corruption arrested for smuggling or drug-dealing or whatever it is you did would be bad, so they let you walk and told you to keep your mouths shut.”
“You think we’re corrupt?” Jia spat, her heart rate kicking up.
“Everyone’s corrupt, Miss Lin. It’s just a matter of degree.”
Erik shrugged. “We left the force for personal reasons, and I don’t look good in bright colors. That’s a polite no from me.”
Jia took some deep breaths. She wanted to tell the criminal off, but as Erik had said, she wasn’t on Mars to stop organized crime. She was on Mars to find a missing Intelligence Directorate agent.
Her determination to successfully complete her mission fought with her instincts about allowing anyone to besmirch the Lin name. Alina had again been proven right.
The new job was bringing compromises far quicker than Jia had anticipated.
“You don’t like me very much, do you, Miss Lin?” Radira straightened her head. “I’ve seen that before in disgraced cops, too. You can’t shake that false nobility you think places you far above so-called criminals like me. Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it. Some of my best friends are former cops.”
“I’m not joining a syndicate,” Jia offered, her voice tight. “And we’re not going to be friends.”
“I thought you would say that. It’s not like I’m offended, but if you change your mind, contact me. It’s not as if everyone has to wear our uniform.” Radira uncrossed her legs and then crossed them in the opposite direction. “Might I ask why you’re on Mars?”
“Unless it has something to do with you, I wouldn’t worry about it,” Erik replied.
Radira leaned forward a little too far for Jia’s taste. The syndicate queen was giving Erik a good view of her assets.
“How do I know if it has something to do with me if you don’t tell me why you’re here?” she asked in what was almost a purr. “I don’t want to get in your way, and to do that, I need to know more.”
Jia narrowed her eyes and stomped in front of Erik. “Because we didn’t even know who you were until your enforcers attacked us. We only came here because we wanted to make sure they didn’t bring an army with weapons back.”
Radira looked past Jia at Erik before refocusing on the other woman. “And what if they did?”
Jia locked eyes with Radira. “Then there would have been a lot of bodies in that hangar.”
Erik put his hand on Jia’s shoulder and squeezed softly. “Since you know who we are, you know what we can do, and you know what we will do when people try to take us out. We’re not looking to start a war here. We don’t even want an apology. We just won’t pay you to stay here.”
Radira’s gaze lingered on Erik. “Your reputation proceeds you, along with a list of destroyed syndicates and terrorist cells. They say you bring pain to my kind of people.”
“There’s an easy way to avoid that,” Jia replied, open venom in her tone. It was a strain to have to be polite to a criminal to begin with, and it didn’t help that said criminal woman kept eyeing Erik like he was a delicious steak she wanted to gobble up.
Dammit, he was Jia’s steak!
“And what is that?” Radira's mask of polite disinterest began to crack, the beginnings of a frown forming and her back stiffening. “Do I need to pay you?”
“Of course not. It’s free.” Jia smirked. “All you have to do is stay the hell away from us.”
Erik tilted his head and pointed his thumb at Jia. “What she said.”
“I suppose if you were here to destroy my organization, we wouldn’t be having this conversation,” Radira mused.
“Exactly.”
Radira sighed. “Very well. I’ll instruct my men to not involve themselves with you, provided you do the same.”
“Fair enough.” Erik looked at Jia for confirmation, and she gave him a curt nod. The sooner they were out of there, the better.
“Would you like to stay for a meal?” Radira offered. “I have exquisite wines.”
“We’re kind of on the clock,” Jia replied. There was no way in hell she was staying in the hungry spider queen’s den with Erik. “But we appreciate the offer.”
“Oh, well. I’ll have my people show you out.” Radira stared at Erik. “And if any aspect of your situation ever changes, let me know.”
“Sure, I’ll do that.” Erik chuckled.
Jia slapped the access panel, grabbed his arm, and pulled him into the hallway. “Let’s go. We’ve already wasted enough time.”
Chapter Forty-Seven
Erik slowed his flitter and dove into a dimly lit underground parking garage nearly full to capacity with other vehicles.
A diverse array of expensive models filled the garage, quelling any residual doubts he might have had about their location being the right place.
They’d contacted Kalei to request a meeting, and she’d told them to meet her in an hour at the Yel Ana Lo
unge, which lay across town from their hotel and the hangar.
He flew slowly down the rows seeking an open parking spot. Men and women, some in luxurious clothes but others rough-looking, headed toward an elevator on one side of the garage. Many of the men made no attempt to conceal their pistols or knives. There were even a few colorful suits in the mix, possibly Prism Associates team members.
The Yel Ana Lounge wasn’t the kind of place good people frequented.
“Great atmosphere.” Jia nodded at a man with a pistol tucked into the small of his back. “It’s like this whole city is one big Shadow Zone.”
“That’s about right, but you don’t get good info on the violent underworld sitting at a rich person’s club.” Erik slid the MX 60 between two black flitters. Both had starburst symbols on the back, which he assumed was the mark of a syndicate.
He didn’t care enough to ask Emma to try to identify it.
“Tellvane knew we were coming.” Jia stared out the window at the parade of trouble. “Us in particular. That didn’t sit well with me.”
“Yeah, but I don’t care that much,” he admitted as he slowed the flitter.
“You don’t?”
“There’s only so much we’ll be able to sneak around doing this job. We already have too big a rep, which means that as long as we’re near Earth, people will always be able to find out. And I’m not ready to go full ghost.” Erik landed the flitter with a slight bump. “Keeping a low profile when we arrive is a good plan in general, though, even if someone figures it out.” He glanced at the bottom of her seat. “And no, I don’t think we need grenades to meet Kalei.”
Jia frowned. “That was a gangster’s house. I don’t think it was crazy to bring backup. This isn’t Neo SoCal. We’re both getting a feel for things.”
“And ‘getting a feel’ means bringing grenades?”
Jia shrugged. “Sometimes.”
Erik opened his door. “Let’s see what Kalei has to say before we check out Sukorn’s apartment. Someone might have given us up, but it’s not like we ran into a bunch of Tin Men with laser rifles.”
“That doesn’t mean we won’t,” Jia suggested.
“Talos might have learned their lesson from being flashy before. If they end up making too much noise, it brings the ID down on them, and at the end of the day, they’re hiding for a reason. Roaches don’t like the light. I’d sure like the chance to stomp on some while we’re here, though.”
Jia looked back at the MX 60 as they headed toward the elevator. “You never use your security system anymore.”
“Emma’s the best security system in the UTC,” Erik replied.
“Among other things,” the AI offered. “If we lose contact again like at the mansion, don’t worry. I’ll be using my acoustic sensors to monitor for the sound of gunfire or the screams of the dying, and I’ll make sure to stay near the elevator.”
Jia eyed her PNIU. “Good to know.”
Erik and Jia headed into the elevator, both chuckling.
All the thugs they’d spotted previously had already taken their trip up, leaving them alone. He tapped the button for the main floor. The elevator rose, and the doors opened to the main club room.
Sickeningly sweet smoke billowed into the elevator. Erik covered his mouth while he coughed.
Shadows filled the dimly lit club, the main illumination for the outer part of the room lights around the bar. Farther in, men and women sat on couches, their eyes glazed over, taking long draws of thin pipes. Low, rhythmic music played.
Dancers cavorted on a small stage in the center of the room in nothing but lightly glowing body paint pulsating through a myriad of bright colors and fractal patterns. Rays of different-colored light swept across the stage, their touch changing the patterns on the dancers’ bodies.
Jia wrinkled her nose and waved her hand, trying to clear the smoke. “That’s Phoenix Root, isn’t it? I’ve never actually smelled it before.”
“Probably. I haven’t smelled it either. Only been to Mars a few times, and I didn’t come to a place like this.” Erik surveyed the room, seeking out any armed threats, but no one was paying them any attention.
Which wasn’t surprising.
Phoenix Root was both calming and a hallucinogen. The plant that was hard to grow off Mars, much like the difficulties people had with Dragon Tear. From what he’d read, it had something to do with the unique interaction of plants with the terraforming process.
Sophisticated genetic engineering and AI analysis weren’t enough to reproduce the plant elsewhere. It was like he had been telling Jia—the galaxy held plenty of secrets, good and bad.
“Lovely place,” Jia muttered. “Kalei has great taste.”
“Hey, at least it doesn’t look like we’re going to have to fight anyone. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a room filled with so many relaxed people.”
Jia’s disdainful gaze swept the addicts in the room. “It wouldn’t be much of a fight. Wait. There she is.” She nodded toward a corner. A stray ray of light from the stage highlighted rainbow hair and a shimmering metallic gown. Kalei was sitting at a small square table in the corner.
Erik and Jia strolled through the couches, catching sight of the occasional guard standing in the corner or a security bot. Not everyone in the room was high. Kalei waved before picking up a tall, thin glass and taking a sip of the pink liquid inside.
A meter away from the table, the sounds of the club died, although the sweet stench of Phoenix Root continued to choke the air. Erik and Jia sat on chairs opposite Kalei.
“Good afternoon, darlings,” she offered with a smile. She gestured grandly. “And welcome to Mars. I don’t care that it’s not the first colony. It’s much more impressive than the moon.”
“I don’t know what this place says about your taste,” Jia mumbled. “I’m going to have to shower after we leave.”
“Oh, don’t be like that.” Kalei sipped her drink. “My preferred clients like dark places surrounded by people with muddled minds. Hanging out in too obvious a place might lead to trouble for me, and I do so hate trouble. It makes my job harder, and not all of us are as interested in shooting people as you two and our mutual friend.”
“Are we secure here?” Erik asked.
Kalei motioned toward his PNIU. “You’re probably out of contact with your little redheaded friend now. From what I hear, you already had a run-in with Radira Tellvane. You two sure like to stir up trouble. You’re lucky it was Prism Associates. Tellvane might like to play the vamp, but she’s shrewd and knows when to push and when to step back.”
“Yes, we did run into her.” Jia frowned. “And she knew who we were.”
Kalei laughed. “Oh, that’s because I told her to expect you.” She flicked her wrist. “In general terms. I didn’t send her to the spaceport.”
“What the hell?” Erik glared at her. “You sold us out?” He jammed his hand into his duster and gripped his gun.
“Don’t be like that, darling.” Kalei put a hand to her mouth and laughed. “You’re overreacting. Radira Tellvane is many things, but she’s not an idiot, which was why I told her. I was actually trying to do you a favor. A thank you would be nice.”
Jia stared at her. “Telling a gangster who we are is doing us a favor? Admittedly, I’m not fully up to speed on specific Martian syndicates. Maybe you could clear up the mystery for me.”
“You two are still too big of names to hide all that well.” Kalei wagged a finger. “Your disguises aren’t good enough for people who know what to look for, and you’ve only been off your old jobs a few weeks. I decided to lean into that, to everyone’s advantage. I gave that information to Radira because she likes to keep things close to the chest. It wouldn’t be to her advantage to leak it, but she holds enough sway to make it clear that people shouldn’t mess with you two. The average syndicate foot soldier around here wouldn’t question their orders, and it shifts the focus to Prism Associates for a few days, giving you room to work.”
/> She set her drink down. “Besides, it also ingratiated me with Radira, and when one is establishing themselves in a new environment, it helps to have friends in low places. It’s a small sacrifice, I think, for the overall benefit of my employer and mission.”
“It’s true that her guys attacked us before they knew who we were.” Erik frowned. “But I don’t like that you did that without asking us. We should have made the call, not you. Don’t try that crap again.”
“Darling, you’re in a whole new world now, filled with ghosts and spiders trying their best to eat other spiders on their own webs.” Kalei's smile brightened. “You’re going to have to get used to people trying to play you for their advantage. If you get pissy just because of something like this, you won’t last long.”
Erik grunted and nodded his head. She was right, but that didn’t mean he had to like it. Fake IDs and low profiles could only go so far. It made sense to leverage their reputation while it remained an advantage.
Jia waved a hand as if she were at her mom’s table and her mom was pressing her to choose a drink she didn’t want. “Whatever. Spare us the condescending speech.” She gestured around her. “It might be nice if we had a privacy device, too. If we’re going to play by your rules, we need more of your tech.”
“Our mutual friend told me to give you one, so good serendipity there.” Kalei reached under the table and produced a thin silver rod. She set it on the table and pushed it toward Jia. “My present. Consider it compensation for any discomfort my actions might have caused.”
Jia raised an eyebrow. “How is it a present if you were told to give it to us?”
“I didn’t have to.” Kalei patted the device. “There’s a slight ridge. Click on and off. Don’t move a lot while you’re using it because this one can add a small, convincing holographic overlay on your mouths to make it seem like you’re talking about something else. You two are hunting big game, so you’ll need to be more careful.”
“Thanks for the toy,” Erik offered. “Let’s get to the point of why we’re here: Sukorn. Do you know who grabbed him? If you could give us a location, we’ll get a chance to kick in a door and bring him back.”
Maelstrom of Treason Page 33